What kind of sand do you use?

[rfdoc]

I'm getting ready to purchase some live sand for my first tank which is 72 gallons. I was thinking of getting the Caribsea Fiji Pink live sand, about 60lbs. However I was wondering if this sand creates too many sand storms because of how fine it is. Does it blow around too easily in the tank and get on the live rock? What kind of sand does everyone use?

[serum153]

Just position your powerheads right and you will be fine. IF you like the fine sand then you might want to look at the Aragalive Bimini which is like .2 to 2.0 - you get the best of both worlds.

[rfdoc]

Thank serum. Do the inverts care what size the sand is, or the fish for that matter such as percs? I want to get things like crabs, a cucumber, and a sand sifting goby. Do they need a special kind?

[rfdoc]

Oh, and also I don't know what I like since I've never had a saltwater tank before. I was looking for opinions of what you like :) and which kind is easier to use and maintain.

[shag26272]

I use Argamax, its very fine but if you point your powerheads right you will be fine, the finer it is the cleaner it will stay, Also I didnt rinse it, the cloudiness cleared up in 1 day.

[rfdoc]

Really, the finer the cleaner? That's good to know I would have guessed the opposite. Thanks!

[shag26272]

because your sand dwelling animals can sift through it better

[Dholmblad]

where did you guys buy your sand? I can get these prices at my LFS.. are they any good?



AragAlive! Fiji Pink sand 20lb bag $39.99 (fine grain)
Aragamax Sugar Sand 30lb bag $35.99 (fine grain)
Marine White Sand 20lb bag $14.99 (fine grain)
Ocean Direct Live Sand 20lb bag $34.99 (fine grain)
Seaflor Special Grade 40lb bag $54.99 (not fine grain but close)

[shag26272]

Drfostersmith.com

[Dholmblad]

With shipping, would sand be just as much online as it is in lfs?

[Lotus99]

The Aragamax sugar sand is good. It's nice for sand sifting gobies, too. The sand sifters do welll with a fine, rounded sand.

I think the LFS prices you posted are reasonable. I'm in favor of supporting my LFS, because if I don't, I won't have anywhere local to buy anything SW other than PetCo.

[rfdoc]

Ok that makes sense. Btw shag - nice avatar! Dholmblad I'm looking at the same thing, with shipping of these heavy bags the price comes out to almost the same if I buy the sand from the LFS, and I get it quicker.

[Dholmblad]

I just went to the lfs, then I decided I dont fell like spending $70 today..

[shag26272]

I dunno, I think it was 18 dollars for 30 lbs shipping is pretty cheap too it was 11 dollars for 60 lbs of sand and a few other things

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9614404#post9614404 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rfdoc
I'm getting ready to purchase some live sand for my first tank which is 72 gallons. I was thinking of getting the Caribsea Fiji Pink live sand, about 60lbs. However I was wondering if this sand creates too many sand storms because of how fine it is. Does it blow around too easily in the tank and get on the live rock? What kind of sand does everyone use?

I use Caribsea Fiji Pink sand and have no issues with sandstorms or sand dunes. I also have 30x turnover in the tank. ;)

[wasupdavey]

I have 40lbs of "Nature's Ocean Live Sand" in my tank. I thought everything was dead in the sand and the water surrounding it. But later I guess it made a big difference because the ammonium and nitrite levels rose for one day after adding a dead shrimp, the next all gone.

[GARFVolunteer]

A fine sand bed is usually more aesthetically pleasing than ones with larger substrate. I would use the Aragamax or another sugar sized sand and stay away from the AragAlive. The AragaMax is much cheaper and IMO the AragAlive is not worth the extra cost...

Any sand you put in the tank will initially cause a sand storm until the sand is colonized with bacteria. After that, any sand storms are usually very short.. I have a closed loop with 5800 GPH and 5 outputs. My sand bed is constantly shifting sand dunes.

I always shop at the LFS if at all possible.

Thanks,

Scott

[Dholmblad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9615482#post9615482 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wasupdavey
I have 40lbs of "Nature's Ocean Live Sand" in my tank. I thought everything was dead in the sand and the water surrounding it. But later I guess it made a big difference because the ammonium and nitrite levels rose for one day after adding a dead shrimp, the next all gone.

Is that the really really fine natures ocean? I was debating on getting that today. The price was right, but I was worried abouthuge stand storms.

[JokerGirl]

I've got the Fiji Pink sand and its been great. There was a dust storm for about a week when I set up the tank, but most of that was because it would clear up and I'd try moving rocks around making a dust storm again.